Volk, Miller, Smith celebrate victories, look to future

Published: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 10:43 p.m.

Cheers erupted from a home on Druid Hills Avenue, from a back room at Hannah Flanagan's and from a kitchen on Woodmont Drive Tuesday night as two incumbents and one popular newcomer learned they had won the public's favor.

With all 13 precincts reporting by 9 p.m., Barbara Volk was re-elected as Hendersonville's mayor, leading her challenger, Councilman Ron Stephens, back to his seat. Challenger Jeff Miller and incumbent Jerry Smith won the two seats open on Hendersonville City Council, unseating Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Collis.

Miller had the most votes in the council race, taking 37.65 percent, or 1,588 of the 4,218 total votes. Smith took 28.62 percent of the votes (1,207 votes), followed by Collis, who took 17.99 percent (759), and former Councilwoman Diane Caldwell, who received 15.5 percent (654 votes).

In the mayor's race, Volk stole the lead with 1,354 votes (59 percent) compared to Stephens' 936 votes (40.8 percent).

More than 2,300 people voted in the mayoral race, with the City Council race drawing 4,245 votes. Overall, Henderson County saw a 14.17 percent turnout for its five municipal elections. Results are not official until votes are cavassed Tuesday.

Stephens and Miller were in separate rooms at Hannah Flanagan's Tuesday night watching the results come in on laptops queued to the Henderson County Board of Election's website.

The two had spent a good portion of their day Tuesday campaigning for votes at Carolina Village, a community that has drawn the highest percentage of turnout for polling sites in municipal elections in the past.

On Tuesday, a majority of the nearly 62 percent turnout at Carolina Village picked Smith and Miller as their top two choices for council and Volk for mayor.

Volk was at her Druid Hills home with family and friends when she received the news of her victory. A graduate of the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership, Volk was the first woman elected to City Council in 1989. She became the city's first female mayor in 2009.

Prior to the primary, Volk said she decided to run for re-election because of her love for the city she serves and her desire to continue to have a positive influence on how its growth is managed.

“I'm just so grateful to all the voters and for all the folks who worked so hard for me,” Volk said. “We had a lot of folks standing out in the cold today at those precincts.”

Volk's house was buzzing with supporters when Stephens called to congratulate her.

“I am disappointed, but I am the most disappointed for all of the people who worked so hard for me,” he said. “You meet a lot of very interesting people in a campaign, and between the new friends and the old friends, I thought we could do it. But Mayor Volk ran a great campaign. She did a good job on her campaign and the people have spoken, and let's move forward the best interests for the people of Hendersonville.”

He is “absolutely going to work as hard as I can to accomplish” the goals he set out during the campaign, which included reigning in city spending and creating new jobs and a business-friendly environment.

“There were four things I wanted to accomplish tonight,” he said. “The first was to win” the mayoral election, “which obviously didn't happen. I also wanted Jeff Miller to win and he did. And I wanted Jerry Smith to win and he did. Last, I wanted the park bond to fail and it did. I very much support the park but do not want to take on that kind of debt right now with the economy and the debt we already have. We can seek out grants and find other money by saving on other projects.”

The referendum for nearly $6 million in parks and recreation bonds, pegged to provide funds to renovate Berkeley Mills Park, failed by a close margin of 1,006 votes in favor (46.62 percent) to 1,152 votes against (53.38 percent).

City Council

Surrounded by family and supporters, Smith was sitting with his laptop queued to the election results at his kitchen table Tuesday night, watching the early votes tease to the hint of another victory. The high school social studies teacher had spent the morning in class and the afternoon visiting polling sites and meeting with constituents.

Minutes after 9 p.m., he was ushering his children to bed and preparing for an early morning at Hendersonville High with an extra wide smile on his face.

“We're certainly very excited,” he said. “It has been an exhausting campaign... I am very happy that I get a chance to represent the city of Hendersonville on City Council for four more years.”

Smith was first elected to council in 2009, deciding to run because he “liked the challenge of making difficult and meaningful decisions” for the city.

A recent victory during his term of service came when the council approved funding for a second student resource officer, who now splits the duties of covering the city's four schools with another officer. Smith proposed the idea for an additional officer after a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary last December and sent a wave of shock and sadness through the nation.

“Getting the SRO passed was very important to me because one of the basic services we provide our residents is security and one of the places we are most vulnerable is at school,” he said. “The taxes of our residents pay for their right to have adequate protection.”

Smith said he looks forward to developing the Oklawaha Greenway Phase III project, helping find new investment on Seventh Avenue, finishing the city's second fire station and developing the old Berkeley Mill building. He also plans to work with council to maintain local control of the city's water and sewer system, look for reasonable ways to improve parking downtown, and continue to support the special events that bring residents and visitors to the city.

After starting his day taking his aunt and uncle to vote at the Carolina Village polls, Miller took a break from work to have lunch with his son, Beck, a junior at Wake Forest University who came home on a surprise visit to support his father. It was an extra treat to see the numbers roll in as a majority of the votes kept him as the race's front runner.

“It's nice to win something other than a primary,” Miller joked, referring to his failed congressional bid to unseat Heath Shuler in 2010. “I think it's shown that the folks trusted us and got out and voted... I look forward to an opportunity to serve in the city I was born in.”

Miller, owner and operator of Miller's Fine Drycleaning and founder of HonorAir an organization serving World War II veterans, threw his hat into the race after years of battling the city's water and sewer department over system development charges. The fees are levied to new customers tapping on to the city's lines and pooled in a reserve fund to use for future upgrades to the city's water and sewer system. A new rate structure for the fees approved in August 2012 increased the cost for most businesses. Miller vowed to “find and maintain a healthy balance with businesses and residents.”

Two weeks after he filed to run for a seat on City Council, the council asked city staff to take the rate structure back to the drawing board. Last month, the council voted in new, lowered fees.

Miller plans to support police and fire protection, protect established historical neighborhoods from “commercial creep,” balance spending and debt with reason and work closely with Henderson County “to make doing business and living in Hendersonville a very pleasant experience.”

Collis, an adult probation officer, has served two terms on City Council.

“I congratulate Jeff (Miller) and Jerry (Smith) on their victory. If there's anything I can do for them... I'll be available,” he said.

Collis said that he accomplished what he set out to do and knows his time of public service is far from over. During his service, he helped herald in the city's 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which helps guide the growth within the city for the next 25 years; the renovation of Main Street; and the new city-staffed Main Street program.

Over the last eight years, the city has weathered the Great Recession without a tax increase and seen a 100 percent increase in its police patrols, an upgrade of its water treatment plant with room for growth and a revamp of the city's privilege tax rate, he said. He is proud of his record.

“The Lord will put me where he wants me,” he said.

Diane Caldwell, a self-employed small business owner, was leading a service at her church, Union Grove Baptist, when the polls closed Tuesday night. Caldwell served on City Council from 1993-1997 and is a past member of the NAACP.

<p>Cheers erupted from a home on Druid Hills Avenue, from a back room at Hannah Flanagan's and from a kitchen on Woodmont Drive Tuesday night as two incumbents and one popular newcomer learned they had won the public's favor.</p><p>With all 13 precincts reporting by 9 p.m., Barbara Volk was re-elected as Hendersonville's mayor, leading her challenger, Councilman Ron Stephens, back to his seat. Challenger Jeff Miller and incumbent Jerry Smith won the two seats open on Hendersonville City Council, unseating Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Collis.</p><p>Miller had the most votes in the council race, taking 37.65 percent, or 1,588 of the 4,218 total votes. Smith took 28.62 percent of the votes (1,207 votes), followed by Collis, who took 17.99 percent (759), and former Councilwoman Diane Caldwell, who received 15.5 percent (654 votes).</p><p>In the mayor's race, Volk stole the lead with 1,354 votes (59 percent) compared to Stephens' 936 votes (40.8 percent).</p><p>More than 2,300 people voted in the mayoral race, with the City Council race drawing 4,245 votes. Overall, Henderson County saw a 14.17 percent turnout for its five municipal elections. Results are not official until votes are cavassed Tuesday. </p><p>Stephens and Miller were in separate rooms at Hannah Flanagan's Tuesday night watching the results come in on laptops queued to the Henderson County Board of Election's website. </p><p>The two had spent a good portion of their day Tuesday campaigning for votes at Carolina Village, a community that has drawn the highest percentage of turnout for polling sites in municipal elections in the past. </p><p>On Tuesday, a majority of the nearly 62 percent turnout at Carolina Village picked Smith and Miller as their top two choices for council and Volk for mayor.</p><p>Volk was at her Druid Hills home with family and friends when she received the news of her victory. A graduate of the N.C. Institute of Political Leadership, Volk was the first woman elected to City Council in 1989. She became the city's first female mayor in 2009.</p><p>Prior to the primary, Volk said she decided to run for re-election because of her love for the city she serves and her desire to continue to have a positive influence on how its growth is managed. </p><p>“I'm just so grateful to all the voters and for all the folks who worked so hard for me,” Volk said. “We had a lot of folks standing out in the cold today at those precincts.”</p><p>Volk's house was buzzing with supporters when Stephens called to congratulate her. </p><p>“I am disappointed, but I am the most disappointed for all of the people who worked so hard for me,” he said. “You meet a lot of very interesting people in a campaign, and between the new friends and the old friends, I thought we could do it. But Mayor Volk ran a great campaign. She did a good job on her campaign and the people have spoken, and let's move forward the best interests for the people of Hendersonville.”</p><p>He is “absolutely going to work as hard as I can to accomplish” the goals he set out during the campaign, which included reigning in city spending and creating new jobs and a business-friendly environment. </p><p>“There were four things I wanted to accomplish tonight,” he said. “The first was to win” the mayoral election, “which obviously didn't happen. I also wanted Jeff Miller to win and he did. And I wanted Jerry Smith to win and he did. Last, I wanted the park bond to fail and it did. I very much support the park but do not want to take on that kind of debt right now with the economy and the debt we already have. We can seek out grants and find other money by saving on other projects.”</p><p>The referendum for nearly $6 million in parks and recreation bonds, pegged to provide funds to renovate Berkeley Mills Park, failed by a close margin of 1,006 votes in favor (46.62 percent) to 1,152 votes against (53.38 percent).</p><p>City Council</p><p>Surrounded by family and supporters, Smith was sitting with his laptop queued to the election results at his kitchen table Tuesday night, watching the early votes tease to the hint of another victory. The high school social studies teacher had spent the morning in class and the afternoon visiting polling sites and meeting with constituents.</p><p>Minutes after 9 p.m., he was ushering his children to bed and preparing for an early morning at Hendersonville High with an extra wide smile on his face.</p><p>“We're certainly very excited,” he said. “It has been an exhausting campaign... I am very happy that I get a chance to represent the city of Hendersonville on City Council for four more years.”</p><p>Smith was first elected to council in 2009, deciding to run because he “liked the challenge of making difficult and meaningful decisions” for the city.</p><p>A recent victory during his term of service came when the council approved funding for a second student resource officer, who now splits the duties of covering the city's four schools with another officer. Smith proposed the idea for an additional officer after a gunman opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary last December and sent a wave of shock and sadness through the nation.</p><p>“Getting the SRO passed was very important to me because one of the basic services we provide our residents is security and one of the places we are most vulnerable is at school,” he said. “The taxes of our residents pay for their right to have adequate protection.”</p><p>Smith said he looks forward to developing the Oklawaha Greenway Phase III project, helping find new investment on Seventh Avenue, finishing the city's second fire station and developing the old Berkeley Mill building. He also plans to work with council to maintain local control of the city's water and sewer system, look for reasonable ways to improve parking downtown, and continue to support the special events that bring residents and visitors to the city.</p><p>After starting his day taking his aunt and uncle to vote at the Carolina Village polls, Miller took a break from work to have lunch with his son, Beck, a junior at Wake Forest University who came home on a surprise visit to support his father. It was an extra treat to see the numbers roll in as a majority of the votes kept him as the race's front runner.</p><p>“It's nice to win something other than a primary,” Miller joked, referring to his failed congressional bid to unseat Heath Shuler in 2010. “I think it's shown that the folks trusted us and got out and voted... I look forward to an opportunity to serve in the city I was born in.”</p><p>Miller, owner and operator of Miller's Fine Drycleaning and founder of HonorAir an organization serving World War II veterans, threw his hat into the race after years of battling the city's water and sewer department over system development charges. The fees are levied to new customers tapping on to the city's lines and pooled in a reserve fund to use for future upgrades to the city's water and sewer system. A new rate structure for the fees approved in August 2012 increased the cost for most businesses. Miller vowed to “find and maintain a healthy balance with businesses and residents.”</p><p>Two weeks after he filed to run for a seat on City Council, the council asked city staff to take the rate structure back to the drawing board. Last month, the council voted in new, lowered fees.</p><p>Miller plans to support police and fire protection, protect established historical neighborhoods from “commercial creep,” balance spending and debt with reason and work closely with Henderson County “to make doing business and living in Hendersonville a very pleasant experience.”</p><p>Collis, an adult probation officer, has served two terms on City Council. </p><p>“I congratulate Jeff (Miller) and Jerry (Smith) on their victory. If there's anything I can do for them... I'll be available,” he said.</p><p>Collis said that he accomplished what he set out to do and knows his time of public service is far from over. During his service, he helped herald in the city's 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which helps guide the growth within the city for the next 25 years; the renovation of Main Street; and the new city-staffed Main Street program. </p><p>Over the last eight years, the city has weathered the Great Recession without a tax increase and seen a 100 percent increase in its police patrols, an upgrade of its water treatment plant with room for growth and a revamp of the city's privilege tax rate, he said. He is proud of his record.</p><p>“The Lord will put me where he wants me,” he said.</p><p>Diane Caldwell, a self-employed small business owner, was leading a service at her church, Union Grove Baptist, when the polls closed Tuesday night. Caldwell served on City Council from 1993-1997 and is a past member of the NAACP.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>